A RANGE of sports clubs and organisations in South-West Edinburgh have come together in the Hub to enhance sport

BOWLS, football, rugby and netball teams will join forces there as part of a drive to ensure Scotland builds on the legacy of this summer’s Commonwealth Games.

A network of hubs is being created to develop sport by giving local clubs a home, bringing people together and giving them information and support on getting fit.

The South-West Edinburgh Community Sport Hub covers Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Wester Hailes, Sighthill and Ratho and is the first based at a university.

As part of last Friday’s launch, a sports festival was held among primary five pupils at local schools.

Shona Robison, minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, who unveiled a plaque, said: “It’s heartening to see such a diverse range of sporting groups working together for the benefit of their local community. With only six months until the Commonwealth Games, we have delivered 117 community sport hubs across the country.”

Professor Steve Chapman, Principal of Heriot-Watt University, said: “The Hub will be of great benefit to the local community, including our staff and students.”

Community sports hubs are also being developed in Edinburgh’s Colinton, Inch Park, Broughton High School, Royal High School and Forrester High School & St Augustines RC High School.

Stewart Harris, chief executive of sportscotland, said: “sportscotland is investing £1.5million of Lottery funding each year into developing at least 150 hubs across all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities by 2016.

“The initiative is providing more opportunities for communities to engage in an active, healthy lifestyle, and for people in Scotland to enjoy sport in excellent facilities.”